Our Executive Leadership team

Our Executive Leadership team members

Paul Taylor - Chief Executive Officer (acting) and Chief Investment Officer

Paul was appointed acting Chief Executive Officer from 3 April 2026. In this role, he is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the organisation and is accountable for achieving our strategic, business, policy and budget objectives, and compliance with legislative requirements.

The Public Sector Commissioner is managing the recruitment and appointment of the permanent CEO position.

Paul also leads our Investment team and has overall responsibility for investment governance, investment strategy, asset allocation, portfolio construction and investment monitoring.

He has over 20 years of investment experience with superannuation funds and other institutional investors.

Before joining us in 2019, Paul spent four years with Willis Towers Watson, most recently as their Head of Asset Consulting in Australia.

He previously worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he led their institutional investment advisory practice, and an investment consultancy firm in London, where he was Head of Investment Manager Research.

Paul is a CFA® charter holder and holds a Bachelor of Computer and Mathematical Science (Statistics and Economics).

Melissa Haddleton – Chief Finance Officer

Melissa provides leadership and strategic direction and has overall responsibility for our finance, tax, procurement, and investment operations.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Taxation and is a current professional member of CPA Australia.

Melissa has over 20 years of experience in financial services and has held a number of senior finance positions within GESB since she joined us in 2007. She previously worked for Bankwest in financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting.

Melissa is a member of our working group against modern slavery, which aims to help us identify risks within our operations, supply chain and investments.

Scott Davis – Chief Corporate Services Officer

Scott leads the Corporate Services business unit, overseeing legal, secretariat and governance functions, information security, records and data management, risk and compliance, IT services, and people and culture.

He brings extensive executive and strategic leadership experience across both the public and private sectors, with a strong track record in leading major transformation programs, managing multimillion-dollar portfolios, and delivering user-centric services in complex environments.

Prior to joining GESB in 2026, Scott served as Executive Director, Corporate Services at the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification. He previously held several senior leadership roles at the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

Scott holds a Bachelor of Science and a Graduate Certificate of Education (Computer-Based Instructional Design).

Kelly Smith - Chief Member Experience Officer

With more than 26 years' experience within the superannuation and wealth management industry, Kelly joined GESB in 2025 as our Chief Member Experience Officer.

Kelly has responsibility for the member and employer experience and ensuring value for money superannuation and retirement products that meet member needs. She oversees functions including brand, communications and digital, insurance, key account management, member insights and analytics, product, and fund administration.

Prior to this role, Kelly worked for HESTA Superannuation Fund, most recently as the Strategic Enablement Consulting Partner, and previously the General Manager of Operations, Insurance and Customer Experience. Kelly also worked at AIA Insurance in various leadership roles that covered brand, innovation, automation, artificial intelligence and portfolio governance; and was awarded the Women in Finance Innovator of the Year in 2020.

Kelly has worked extensively with independent boards, is an experienced committee member and holds numerous qualifications including a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Master of Business Administration, Master of Organisational Leadership, and Master of Science (Project Management). She is a Certified Practising Accountant and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.